College Corinthians travel to Dublin in a bid to claim their first FAI U17 Cup where they face a strong Corduff FC side.

The Cork side have been tested along the way with a battling victory over Cherry Orchard and a strong response in the semi-final to overcome Villa FC as they look ahead to the FAI 2021/22 Centenary U17 Cup final in Whitehall on Saturday, May 21.

Speaking ahead of Saturday's final, Corinthians manager Peter Healy with his side eagerly awaiting the showpiece with their final preparations taking place on Thursday.

"The mood in the dressing room is very good, we trained on Tuesday and there is a real excitement now. It’s nice to be preparing for a national cup final and nice to be looking forward to such a big game this time of year," said Healy.

"This has been on our radar for quite a number of years and we have kind of fancied ourselves. We haven’t actually made it to a final over the past few years and to make it this year, we are looking forward to the last bit of preparation and the game."

Corinthians faced some tough opponents on route to the final with three victories on the road. Healy looked back on the campaign to date with the semi-final proving to be a character-building affair.

"We have played well in all our national cup games this year. The lads seem to have the ability to step it up on the big day. The quarter-final was a good win against Cherry Orchard and it is always nice to beat a team coming down from Dublin, particularly of that calibre," Healy commented.

They had beaten us on penalties in our previous national cup run so we were looking forward to the test. It was a very tight affair and we managed to come out on the right end of it.

"The Villa game (semi-final) was a real stand-out performance from the lads. When you go away from home, it can be more difficult but the lads showed up with the right attitude. It was a crazy game. We were 3-1 up coming towards half-time and playing really well.

"Then we gave away two goals just before the break, one being a penalty. So, in a game I thought we were controlling, to go in at half-time 3-3 away from home was testing. In the dressing room, the lads just wanted to get back out there again and they won the second-half 3-0 and it was a fantastic, dogged performance and one I was really impressed by.

"Now we want to focus and get into that mindset again. I was hoping the final could come the week after the Villa game to build on that performance. But in the past week or so, the preparation has gone really well with no injuries and touch wood that remains the case.

"We were speaking tonight how going away from home is a little bit hard but it’s just another game. It’s the same preparation we have done for all the other games and hoping to go in with the same mindset."

As the clock ticks towards kick-off, Corinthians are hoping for a big travelling support with a new crop of stars ready to inspire the next generations in Cork.

"We are hoping a big crowd come up from Cork and I know each of the players have family travelling and there are a good few others from within the club. We are all looking forward to a big day out, the event around it but most importantly the game itself and those 90 minutes," continued Healy.

"We trained on Tuesday and another session planned for Thursday night which will be light and some tactical work. We brought in another coach from the club who has won a national cup previously to speak to the boys tonight and giving his perspective. Then we will continue to talk with the lads, brief them and have them ready and focused for Saturday.

"It is great as a club to have Adam Idah and a number of other internationals come through the ranks. The club have had a couple of national cup wins over the past few years which is great. It is good for the club, to help promote the game and give some of the younger teams hope and something to look up to. Our lads are looking at Idah and David Meyler and knowing they are doing the same training and playing on the same pitch as they did. It is great to be able to promote success from within and it shows that if you work hard in that environment, you can make it."

College Corinthians - Route to the Final

Round 1: Buttevant Soccer Club 1 – 8 College Corinthians
Round 2: Watergrasshill United 1 – 9 College Corinthians
Round 3: College Corinthians 7 – 0 Termonfeckin Celtic
Round 4: College Corinthians 8 – 2 Cregmore / Claregalway
Quarter-Finals: College Corinthians 3 – 2 Cherry Orchard
Semi-Finals: Villa FC 3 – 6 College Corinthians

Match Details

Fixture: Corduff FC v College Corinthians
Competition: FAI 2021/22 Centenary U17 Cup Final
Location: Home Farm, Dublin
Date: Saturday, May 21
Kick-off: 2pm